Float-operated switch



May v10 1927 E. a. SMITH FLOAT GPERATED SWITCH Filed Feb. '7. 1922 a M, f 4 M 4 E@ y @M P O ,1/ HT@ z f J 5 Z o0 i, iw MW Z A -|l\l s L?, a.. ZZ MI. Z

@Het wup l Patented May 10, 1927.

UNITED STATES EARLY BARNETT SMTH, F TAMPA, FLORDA.

FLOAT-OPERATED SWITCH.

Application led February 7, 1922.

rlhe object ofi this invention is to improve the construction of fioat-operated switches.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 shows in longitudinal section, a Yfloat-operated switch constructed in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a cross section on the line 2-2 or' Figure 1; Fig ure 3 is a cross section on the line 3 3 or Figure 1.

The drawings show a heat-operated switch, embodying a casing 1 including a cup-shaped base 2 and an inverted cupshaped body 3 having a flange d extended within the base, the body 3 being provided with a circumscribing bead 37 engaging the upper edge of the base 2. A partition 5 extends across the body 3 and is provided with a depending marginal flange 6 attached by securing elements 7 to the body 3, as shown in Figure 1. The base 2 has a lateral inlet opening 8, across which extends a screen 9. The body 3 is provided with attaching elements 10, whereby the casing 1 may be mounted on a support. The body 3 has a nipple 14 carrying a water-proof conduit 15, such as a piece of pipe.

An annular bracket 19, made of insulating material, is located in the casing 1 and united by securing devices 2() with the lop of the body Contact members 21 abut against the lower surface of the bracket 19 and are held on the bracket by screws 23 or the like, the lower ends of the screws entering retaining blocks 24, made ot con ducting material, and engaging the contact members 21. At their inner ends, the contact members 21 are provided with downwardly inclined tongues 22. The annular bracket 19 has recesses 25 receiving the heads of the screws 23, there being transverse passages 26 in the retaining blocks 24, binding screws 27 being threaded upwardly into the blocks 24:, the binding screws entering the passages 2G. Conductors 28 enter the passages 26 and are bound against the screws 23 by the screws 27, an electrical connection thus being established between the conductors 28 and the contact members 21. The conductors 28 extend through the conduit to any desired point.

The partition 5 defines a lloat chamber 29 Serial No. 534,830.

in the base 2, and in this lloat chamber, a tloat 8O is located, the :tloat having an. eccen tric guide finger 31 received slidably in the partition 5, the function ot the guide linger 25 being to prevent the float .trom rotating. The lioat carries a stem 32 whereon a conducting bridge 33 is secured as indicated at 3d, the bridge being insulated from the stem, as indicated at 35, the bridge having l) downwardly inclined tongues 36 adapted to engage the` tongues 22 of the contact members 21, as shown in Figure 1. lt has been pointed out hereinbe'liore that the guide linger 31 prevents the iloat 30 `from rotating and since the tloat cannot rotate, the bridge 33 will be located always so that when the float is in the position shown in Figure 1, the circuit, including the conductors 28, the contact members 21, and the bridge will be closed.

rlhe float-operated switch above described is intended to work on a closed circuit, and it will be obvious that when the water rises to a pre-determined amount, the water, en- T tering the opening 8, will elevate the float 30 and cause the bridge 33 to move out or" engagement with the members 21, the circuit, including the conductors 2S., being opened. lt is obvious that, it suitable suppleinentary mechanisms be provided, an opening oi the circuit may be caused to actuate a signal, thereby indicating that the water has risen to a dangerous extent beneath a trestle, ior instance.

That is claimed is An electric switch comprising contact members having their inner ends spaced. apart, a bridge cooperating with the inner ends o't' the Contact members, means tor moving the bridge into and out of engage ment with the inner ends of the Contact members, an annular bracket and means for mounting the bracket in lined position, the bridge operating within the annular br cket, oppositely disposed retaining blocks having openings for the reception of conductors, the outer ends of the contact members being received between the bracket and the blocks, screws passing through the bracket and the outer ends of the contact members and threaded into the blocks to bind the outer ends of the Contact members between the bracket and the blocks, the screws projectn ing into the openings of the blocks, and other screws threaded into the blocks in nhnement with the first-specified screws. .said other screws entering the openings or' the blocks and serving to bind conductors against those portions of the irst-specied screws which project into the openings.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing:r 10 as my own, I have hereto alixed my signature.

EARLY BARNETT SMITH. 

